Shared lane

Davesnave

If there's nothing on paper, then the surface arrived-at will depend on random factors, like who lives at the far end and what their attitude is towards ease of access.

Even where there is a defined maintenance contribution, my experience is that there's always someone for whom money is tight!

In any event, the surface you see is likely to be the one you'll get. Either decide now to buy a 4x4, or move on. This is the price one often pays for not being on a road with passing traffic.

Davesnave

G_M wrote: »

It all depends

* who owns the lane
* who is responsible for arranging its maintenance
* who is responsible for paying for its maintenance
* whether you'd consider switching to a nice Land Rover Defender

Have you ever driven a Defender?

I have!

Wouldn't want it if I could get away with one of the modern Japanese / Korean etc double cabs.

AdrianC

EachPenny wrote: »

You should have specified that you needed advice from people living in a home on a shared lane used by agricultural vehicles (probably HGV's too). These have an altogether different impact on the life expectancy of any road than the occasional passage of private cars. A modern tractor can easily 'eat' a bag of gravel in a single pass :shocked:

The lane I referred to is used by large tractors, as well as larger trucks. Anywhere in the country will be used by trucks on a semi-regular basis, dealing with things townies take for granted - like delivering oil and gas for heating, or taking away the contents of septic tanks. Largest I've seen down there are 18t rigid trucks and JCB Fastracs. There's an axle weight limit on all trucks, so once you get much beyond 7.5t, the loadings are the same.

moneyistooshorttomention

AdrianC wrote: »

The lane I referred to is used by large tractors, as well as larger trucks. Anywhere in the country will be used by trucks on a semi-regular basis, dealing with things townies take for granted - like delivering oil and gas for heating, or taking away the contents of septic tanks. Largest I've seen down there are 18t rigid trucks and JCB Fastracs. There's an axle weight limit on all trucks, so once you get much beyond 7.5t, the loadings are the same.

Very true.

As a city person - all that sort of thing hadnt crossed my mind.

Large everyday type deliveries (ie of goods) as well get made to even ordinary homes on blinkin' great lorries sometimes. You don't think of these things either when all you're used to anyone having anywhere is standard normal roads and huge lorries probably don't turn up with anything in the first place very much - and, if they do, then they're driving along and then parking on these "standard normal roads".

The only time I can ever recall spotting an enormous great lorry in my previous (city) road was a removal van whenever someone was moving. Country living is a revelation....

My eyes must have been visibly popping out of my head for months to start with at the sheer size of some of the vehicles round here - tractors and enormous lorries...

PasturesNew

Who clears the lane when you're cut off in the winter?
It might be nobody .... can you shovel 100 foot long of 6" deep snow to get to work?

It might be that most of the time the farmer's out early doing it .... but one day he might stop needing to get up/out/down that lane that early ever again.

AdrianC

PasturesNew wrote: »

Who clears the lane when you're cut off in the winter?
It might be nobody .... can you shovel 100 foot long of 6" deep snow to get to work?

Meanwhile, here in the UK...

PasturesNew

AdrianC wrote: »

Meanwhile, here in the UK...

6 inches isn't difficult to accumulate, especially if there's a wind and the snow's drifting.

AdrianC

Yes, you might get a 6" drift against a wall - perhaps even more. But not across the full width of a lane...

And, if you did, you might as well not even bother trying to get to work, because you can bet it's going to be utter chaos once you get onto the roads itself...

Norman_Castle

OP. Talk to the neighbours about the lane. There may be no regular or ongoing problems other than being bumpy.

Kimpop

Thanks everyone for your replies, I really appreciate it. I have spoken with the EA but they told me what I have already found out myself by checking in google earth etc.
I asked who owned the lane and she just said it was shared and that I should go through that with my solicitor. I'm unsure of the whole process and don't have a solicitor.
There are 5 others on the lane, 3 homes and 2 farms so there is a lot of Large vehicles and tractors etc.
My husband knew a man that lived in a shared lane and had no knowledge of any agreement and The lane owner resurfaced and sent him a percentage of the bill, he wasn't expecting it so was (rightly so) very annoyed!
I feel a bit weird going to the neighbours doors and thought a friendly phone call might be nice to find out more about the area but can't find any contact information so may need to be rave and go and knock their door.
I can't wait to get back to the countryside but as this is my first purchase I just want to be sure so thank you for all your replies ����